Abstract of article published in American Oil Chemist Society Peer review Journal “Lipids” June 2003 Volume 38 p596 – p686

Antagonism of Croton Oil Inflammation by Topical Emu Oil in CD-1 Mice

Abstract of article published in American Oil Chemist Society Peer review Journal “Lipids” June 2003 Volume 38 596- 686

Subbiah Yoganathana^ab, Robert Nicolosi^b*, Thomas Wilson^b, Garry Handelman^b, Patrick Scollin^b, Richard Tao^c, Paul Binford^d, and Frank Orthoefer^e

^aForsyth Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, ^bCenter for Health and Disease Research, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, ^cBiomedical Research Institute, Rockville, Maryland 20825, ^dLB Processors, Chapmansboro, Tennessee 37035, and ^eArkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72467

Emu oil is derived from the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), which originated in Australia, and has been reported to have anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation was induced in anesthetized CD-1 mice by applying 50 µL of 2% croton oil to the inner surface of the left ear. After 2 h, the area was treated with 5 µL of emu, fish, flaxseed, olive, or liquified chicken fat, or left untreated. Animals were euthanized at 6 h postapplication of different oils, and earplugs (EP) and plasma samples were collected. Inflammation was evaluated by change in earlobe thickness, increase in weight of EP tissue (compared to the untreated ear), and induction in cytokines interleukin (IL)-1a and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) in EP homogenates. Although reductions relative to control (croton oil) were noted for all treatments, auricular thickness and EP weights were significantly reduced (-72 and -71%, respectively) only in the emu oil-treated group. IL-1a levels in homogenates of auricular tissue were significantly reduced in the fish oil (-57%) and emu oil (-70%) groups relative to the control group. The cytokine TNF-a from auricular homogenates was significantly reduced in the olive oil (-52%) and emu oil (-60%) treatment groups relative to the control group. Plasma cytokine levels were not changed by croton oil treatment. Although auricular thickness and weight were significantly correlated with each other (r = 0.780, P < 0.003), auricular thickness but not weight was significantly correlated with cytokine IL-1a (r = 0.750, P < 0.006) and TNF-a (r = 0.690, P < 0.02). These studies indicate that topical emu oil has anti-inflammatory properties in the CD-1 mouse that are associated with decreased auricular thickness and weight, and with the cytokines IL-1a and TNF-a.
Paper no. L9158 in Lipids 38, 603 – 607 (June 2003).

Article#: 2950